Joanna Meiklejohn
SCDA One Acts – Saturday
Calculated quartet
To the second night of the Edinburgh district round of the SCDA’s One Act Play Festival at the Church Hill Theatre, where the four plays on offer demonstrated that the competition is firmly back on track.
The Deil’s Awa’
★★★★☆ Devilishly funny
Edinburgh People’s Theatre attack The Deil’s Awa’ at Mayfield Salisbury Church with such humour and panache that the result is nigh on irresistible.
Aladdin
★★★★☆ Magical:
Aladdin is Edinburgh People’s Theatre’s 67th consecutive pantomime but there is nothing tired about it. There may be baggy elements, but these are more than overcome by attention to comic detail, awareness of what really makes a panto and sheer good fun.
Second Honeymoon
★★★★☆ Pacy nostalgia:
Second Honeymoon at Mayfield Salisbury Church extends Edinburgh People’s Theatre’s record-breaking Fringe run with some style. Unashamedly nostalgic and with bags of comic bravado, it purrs like a well-oiled machine.
Little Red Riding Hood
★★★★☆ Traditionally welcome:
There is a great deal in Little Red Riding Hood at the Church Hill Theatre that is involving, warm and funny.
Takin’ Over the Asylum
★★★★☆ Serious comedy:
‘We are loonies and we are proud’ declare the cast of Takin’ Over The Asylum – a statement that many will find a combination of over-worthiness and bad taste.
